Sinker head for knitting machines



SePtll, 1945. A. L BRUMBACH v 2,384,451

SINKER-HEAD FOR KNITTING MACHINES F'iled Oct. 7, 1941 PLE--EL INVENToR: Z/vnL.ru/mbadl, W

. A-rToR Y.-

,sePt- 1l, 1945' A. l. laRulxflBAc'l-l 2,384,451

SINKER-HEAD FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Oct'. 7, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.-

Sept. 1l, 1945.` A. L 'BRuMBAcH SINKEH-HEAD FOR KNITTING MACHINES 7 sheets-sheet 4 Filed Oct. 7, 1941 FI. G--E- f lNvEN'roR: vu/L.rumabqch, BY t; q Q%7/ATTOR r lll/ll Sept. 1l, 1945. A. l. BRUMBACH SINKER-HEAD FOR KNITTING MACHINES '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. '7, 1941 INVENToR: ZvnL.1'umbad1/,

ATTORNEY.

Sept 11 945 A. 1 BRUMBACH l 2,384,451

SINKER-HEAD FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Oct. 7, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 y lNvENToR: Lv/n/L.rumbach,

BY gzv ATTO R N EY.

Sept. 11, 1945. A. L BRUMBACH SINKER-HEAD FOR KNI'ITING MACHINES '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Oct. 7, 1941 F1555- PLE-Q P1955- Y INVENTOR: 1 lfvinL.gBrwmlm/chf, l

iff/f ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. ll, 1945 4SINKER. AHEAD FR KNlTI'ING MACHINES Alvin L. Brummen, Reading, Ps., assignor to 'rextlle Machine Works, Wyomissing, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application October 7, 1941, Serial No. 414,012

21 Claims.

This invention relates to sinker-heads of fullfashioned and other ilat knitting machines and this application is a continuation in part of my prior application for Bearing construction for knitting machines, Serial No. 214,058, filed June 16, 1938, which has eventuated into Patent No. 2,271,852.

In the operation of certain types of knitting machines of which the full-fashioned machines are examples, the sinkers and dividers reciprocate on horizontal bearingportions of the sinkerheads. Said heads have ordinarily been made to include a lower cast metal bed or base and an upper cast metal top or cover. As the sinkers and dividers are commonly made of Swedish steel and are very thin, they have a marked grooving action on their bearings or supports. Also, the sinkers and dividers themselves wear somewhat at the same time. The sum of the wear on the supporting areas and on'the lower edges of the sinkers and dividers aiiects the position of the thread catching notches of the sinkers and dividers to lower them, but somewhat irregularly, thereby lowering the grade of the hosiery produced. In attempting to recondition worn sinkerheads, diincultyhas been encountered for several reasons, one being because it has been the custom to machinethe sinker-head` bases and covers to provide guide grooves for the sinkers and dividers and, when once the original grooves have worn beyond a certain degree, it is almost impossible to recondition a head so that it gives perfect resuits again for a commerciallysignicant period merely by further machining of the original slots and correspondingly elevating the` head, because the slots wear wider as well as deeper.

It is accordingly an object of my invention to provide a sinker-head structure adapted for fulliashioned and other knitting machines having a readily removable insert portion and which can be restored to its original condition at an advantageouscost after its bearing surfaces have been changed by use to a degree causing an undesirable eiect on the quality of the product.

Another object is to provide a sinker-head having a readily removable slotted insert for supporting the entire number o! sinkers and dividers and which can be replaced, after the slots have been worn, at a cost less than that of a, new slnker-head. g

Another object is to provide a novel sinkerhead which can be made economically and which gag; be economically restored toits original con- Still another object is' to provide a novel sinkerhead arrangement in which the bottom edges ot the sinkers and dividers shall rest and' reciprocate on a plane surface instead of in grooves.

A still further object is toprovide la form o! suiker-head insert unit' adapted for a lullfashioned knitting machine which will require less expense than the `present form of sinkerhead to machine to nal dimensions.

A still further object is to provide an insert in a sinker-head to accomplish the various advantages, apparent from the following description.` l

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent from the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, my invention resides in the novel structures including the new elements, features of construc-y tion and arrangement of parts in cooperative relationship as hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig.v 1 is a top plan view of a singer-head structure, embodying the invention, having distance breaks indicating a contraction of the length thereof to simplify illustration;` the structure forming part of a well known multi-section fullfashioned knitting machine;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view having a portion taken substantially along the line 2 2 of Fig. l, and a portion of a needle bed structure not shown in that ilgure;

Fig. 3 is a detail fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line t-- of Fig. 1 and enlarged relative thereto, the sinkers and dividers being omitted;

, Fig. 4 is a perspective view, having an inter-V mediate break, of a sinker bed cover insert of the invention; y

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 of .a sinker bed insert, also of the invention:

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modiiled form of the invention, showing a sinker bed cover insert-receiving element in dot-and-dash lines, and an' insert molded thereto;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a slnker bed unit according to the form of the invention of Fig. 6,

' showing a non-metallic sinker guide insert molded to a metal receivingelement therefor;

Fig. 8 is a view of the structure oi. and as viewed in, Fig. 7 taken in section along the line 8 8;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of another form of the invention;

Fig. 10 is a. view similar to Fig. 9, of a further form o1' the invention;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to a portion of Figs. 9 and 10, of a still further form of the invention;

Fig. 12 is a top plan view similar to Fig. 1, of another form of the invention, showing a sinkerhead having spacer elements for the sinkers and dividers;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2,

taken, substantially along the line l3-I3 of Figtaken substantially amng the unes u-u of rig. 12;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary detail sectional view similar to a portion of Fig. 13, but taken on a different section line and enlarged relative thereto, with the parts in different relative positions and certain ofthe parts broken away;

Fig. 16 is a detail view of one 0f the spacer ele ments shown in Figs. 12 to 15;

Fig. 1'1 is an end view of a spacer element as viewed from the right of Fig. 16;

. Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional view similar to a portion of Fig. 14 and enlarged relative thereto;

Fig. 1-9 is a fragmentary detail view in elevation of a combined spacer and tle bolt shown in Fig. 15;

Fig. 20 is a perspective viewv of a sinker bed cover according to the form of invention of Figs. 12 to 15, part being in vertical section and part in transverse section;

Fig. 21 is a perspective view of a sinker bed unit according to the form of invention of Figs. 12 to 15;

Fig. 22 is aperspective view of an insert member shown in Flg. 20;

Fig. 23 is a sectional view taken along the line 23-23 of Fig. 22 indicating by cross-hatching one material from which the insert member is constructed; and

Figs. 24 and 25 are sectional views similar to Fig. 23 indicating by dierent cross-hatching different materials from which the insert member of Fig. 22 may be constructed. f

In the drawings and description, only the means necessary to a complete understanding of the invention have been specically set forth; further infomation as to the construction and operation of other related, usual and well known knitting machine elements, mechanisms, etc., may be found in one or more of the -following publications:

1. Pamphlet entitled-Full-Fashioned Knitting Machines-published and copyrighted by the Textile Machine Works, Reading, Pennsylvania,

t Machine Works, in 1929, 1935 and 1940, respectively.

3. Booklet entitled-The Production Full-Fashioned Knitting Machinewhich forms s. supplement to the above noted 1940 parts catalog of the Textile Machine Works, and which booklet is a publication of the Textile Machine Works, and was copyrighted by the latter in 1940.

4. Pamphlet-Knitting Machine Lecturespublished by the Wyomissing Polytechnic Institute, Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, in 1935.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown therein several sinker-heads according to my invention, said heads being of dierent forms but al1 adapted for use in a full-fashioned knitting machine and providing a horizontal supporting means for the lower edges of the horizontally reciprocating sinkers .and dividers as well as guiding means for the lateral edges and/or sides of the sinkers and dividers.

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings illustrate a sinker-head assembly S embodying the inven'- "Reading High-l part of a multi-section full-fashioned knitting machine, as set forth in the above-mentioned catalogues, except for the improvements in the sinker-head herein set forth.

The needle bar assembly N comprises a needle bar 1, a needle bed 3, needles 3, a yieldable needle clamping strip I2, as of paper, and clamps i4 held to the bar 1, as by screws Il.

The knockover bit assembly K comprises a vknockover bit bed I1l knockover bits I3. and a knockover bit clamp I3.

The sinker-head assembly B, which is mounted on a center bed 22 of the machine, comprises, in the structure illustrated, a sinker bed backing member or base 23 for a sinker bed insert 24, sinkers 21, dividers 28, a sinker-bed cover backing member 23, sinker-bed cover insert 32, and a verge pla' 3 3. It will be noted that vthe backing member 23 and insert 24 comprise vthe bed or base B of the assembly S, portion B ordinarily being made in one piece.

The sinker bed backing member 23 has apertured lugs 31 .through which screws (not shown) extend to secure the member 23 to the center bed 22.

l The sinker bed cover backing member 23 isA mounted in superposed spaced relation to the member 23 by spacers 38 (Fig. 3), screws 3l, and spacer bolts 40.

The sinker bed backing member 23 is, in-the present instance, vcomposed of metal having a hollowed out top portion or face for the receptype generally recognized in the trade under the trade-names of .bakelite, textolite and the like, Celluloid, composition, or other accuratelymachinea'ble substance of wear resistant, and

40 hard, or distortion opposing, characteristics. De-

y in the direction of the forward and backward 1011: Fig. 2 showing this structure in cooperative movement of the sinkers 21 and the dividers 28.

Also, at the front end of the insert 24, the latter is extended forwardly and upwardly to form a presser edge 46 the function of which is, as is well known, to engage the beards of the needles on the down stroke of the needles tc close the beards by pressing their ends into the grooves in the upper portions of the needle bodies.

After the underside surfaces of the insert 24 have been accurately machined, for close precision fit to the cooperating similarly machined surfaces of the backing member 23, the members 23 and 24 are secured to each-other, as by screws 41 that are disposed partially in apertures 43 in the member 23, and partially in countersunk openings 49 in the insert 24.

With the backing member 23 and the insert l24 thus assembled, they are then machined and finished, the same asl though they were of one integral metal piece, to form sinker and divider machines as is well known, have a sinker or divider mounted in alignment with the gap beassassin.

is equal to the number of needles in one and.

a half inches. Assuming therefore that a sinkerhead assembly S for a Il gauge machine is shown in the drawings, the grooves El! and il in the inserts 24 and 32 respectively are machined twenty-six per inch. For the now more popular higher gauge machines. the grooves are set even closer. 4

The bplts di, since they extend through the member It, the inserts't and u, and the member 23, in the working sones of the sinkers and dividers, are each therefore provided with a thin plate-like intermediate section I6 to iit between a sinker and a divider. Also, since in this position, they must not turn. the bolts. 6l are each provided with square-section portions Il fitting square openings it and I6 in the inserts 24 and 82, and the backing members Il and Il, respectively. Disk viili'e heads Il of the bolts l0 are heid against the member Il by nuts At its rear edge, the insert element 82 has an inclined bearing surface portion l! for an impact reducing portion It of the verge plate 33 having an impact insert il which may also be constructed of material similar to the material of the inserts Il and I2. The maior portion oi the verge plaie II is in rigid stationary position on the backingmember Il, but the portion Il, having some impact movement when engaged by the sinkers and dividers. is mounted for such movement on the bearing portion Il of the insert 32. .The backing member Il and the insert u, which guide the sinkers and dividers. are secured to each other by screws Il, in openings it of the insert with a ledge Il on the insert (Figs. 2 and 4) engaging an edge Il of the backing member.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 6, an insert element t1 for the cover. shown in full lines and constructed of the non-metallic material above set forth, is molded to a metal insertreceiving backing member l., shown in dotanddash lines. The latter is provided with 'dove-tail grooves on its surface nextto the insert element t1, such that when the latter is molded in position, ridges Il are formed in. and coact with, the grooves in the element Il as anchorage means for holding the elements I1 and Il together.

The sinker bed cover assembly of Fig. composed oi' element I1 and member Il. is first formed to its general shape, and subsequently accurately machine finished as one piece and provided with sinker and divider grooves 1l.

As shown in Figs. l and 8, a sinker bed unit is formed similarly to the sinker bed cover unit of Fig. 6. by an insert-receiving backing member il of metal, and an insert member Il of nonmetallic material, as set forth: the insert, in this instance also, having ridges l1 doveftailed into grooves in the receiving member to hold the members together. Depending integral bearing portions 'Il and separate cooperating bearing elements 1I. oi non-metallic or metallic material. secured to the portions 1i by screws l2 adapt the assembly as a mounting for the customary vknock-- over bit trunnions (not shown) oi the machine.

The" slnker bed unit of Figs. 'l and 8 is formed to its general shape, and subsequently accurately machine nnished and provided with a presser edge 'il and sinker and divider grooves 1t.

In Fig. il. I have shown a suiker-head BA within the invention, differing from that shown in rigs. i, iii-and 3 primarily in the proportionscf the parts, the kuockover bit bed and needle bar being, however, omitted from this figure. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 11, the backing member 23A extends farther forward and rearward beneath the ,insert 24A than does member 28 beneath member 2l, thereby rendering greater support to the insert member, the insert member having a straight plane bottom to permit of the stated arrangement of the backing member, and both the backing member and insert of Fig. 11 are arranged for only one row of holding screws OTA instead of two. The cover backing member 29A and the cover insert 32A oi Fig. ll are substantially like those oi.' Figs. l, 2 and 3, except that they also have one row of screws SQA instead of two. The verge plate arrangement shown in Fig. l1 is somewhat different from that shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3. This, however, forms no part of the present invention and is not described or claimed herein.

In Fig. 9, I have shown a form of sinker-head SB within the invention identical with that in Figs. .1, 2 and 3 except that the insert parts 24B and 32B are made of metal.

In Fig. l0. I have shown a form of sinker-head BC quite like those shown in Figs. 2 and 9, but in which the metal insert members 34C and 32C are held in place by sweated or soldered joints 85 and Il, respectively. When it is desired to sep'- arate inserts 24C and 32C from their backing A members, it is necessary only to bring their temperature up to the point at which the solder in Joints II and It becomes molten and to insert a sharpl pry between the inserts and the 'backing members.

In all the forms shown inFigs. 1 to l1 inclusive. the insert members, whether of- Bakelite or metal, are formed with slots for receiving the edges of the sinkers and dividers and for guiding and supporting them during their. reciprocation.

In Figs. l2 to 25 inclusive, I have shown a form of sinker-head SD within the invention comprising a metal base member 90 having a plane horizontal upper surface li interrupted by one or more longitudinal grooves s2 of which two are shown. The cover or cap member 93 is arranged or formed similarly to the base member 90, the bottom of the cover 9s being a plane horizontal surface ll `but interrupted by only a single longitudinal groove 95, spacer blocks Il l and screws or bolts ill near the ends of parts 90 and 93 holding them in proper spaced relation similarly to spacers Il in Fig. 3. Top surface si of the base is evidently well adapted to support the lower small as shown and such clearances being covered edges of the sinkers 21 and dividers 28 for horisontal reciprocation, but can have no effect in maintaining the desired spacing between them or in maintaining them in vertical planes transverse to base I l. as is necessary. poses. I have shown spacer members 98 which extend at points of maximum width continuously from surface Il to surface Il in the vertical direction and extend at full width in the direction transverse to the sinker-head and parallel to the sinkers for a considerable portion of the width of member IS, for over half of such width in the arrangement shown. The thickness of members It is approximately that of the ribs between slots I! and It (Fig. 3) -for the same gauge machine. The clearances between the spacers s6 and the sinken 21 and dividers 2l beingtherefore quite at top and bottom, they become completely filled in use with lubricant iilms so that the sinkers and 'dividers runin contact with lubricant nlms strips 01. and |02 in grooves 02 and 00 respectively which make .only a moderately close ilit with the walls of said grooves so that they can be readily inserted therein and removed therefrom. While the forward insert member 01 is functionally identical with the rear insert member 01, said rear insert member isV shown shortened and bevelled at its ends at points ||5 so as not to interfere with the means ordinarily employed for securing the sinker-heads to the center bed 22. Said inserts 01 and |02 have transverse slots 00 therein separated by thin ribs l0, of about the thickness of the sinkers and dividers. When inserts or strips s1 and |02 are in place ingrooves 02 and I5, slots 00 and ribs 00 extend transversely of both said inserts and the members 00 and 93 as well as parallel to the line of movement of the sinkers and dividers, the sinkers 21 and dividers 20 lying in the same vertical planes as the ribs $0. However, as is perhaps best shown in Figs. 15 and 18,

the sinkers and dividers do not contact the edges of ribs 09, being supported entirely by the base $0 and sliding back and forth on its said upper surface 0| when in operation. The upper edges voi' sinkers 21 and dividers 2l do not quite contact with the bottom surface 00 of cover member 00 but there is not clearance enough to be shown conveniently in the drawings. Ribs s0, however, are preferably not cut down or back relatively tothe remainder of inserts I1. and |02, the inserts being shown of the same thickness in the intermediate portions containing slots 00 as in their end portions |0|. Further, as is clear from Figs. 13, 14, 15 and 18, insert |02 in groove 00 in cover member 0I is identical with one of inserts 01 except that insert 02 is. of course, inverted com Dred to inserts 01 so that the slots- 00 in insert I 02 open downward instead of upward.

I n order to promote the ready assembly of spacers 00 in the desired positions as shown as well as to hold the spacers and the inserts l1 and |02 'against movement in the members 00 and 03, spacers 00 each have lower` projections |00 and `an upper projection |04, said projections ex# tending into slots 00. Projections |00 and |00 nt into said slots 00 somewhat loosely, so that the parts can be-readily assembled, but closely enough so that spacers 00 and the sinkers 21 and dividers. 20 are heid in substantially vertical planes. Movement of the assembled inserts 01 and |02 with the 'spacers 00, the `sinkers 21 and dividers 2s lengthwise of members 00 and 00 is prevented by those of spacers s0. designated 00A, which lie inthe end slots 0l and engage with their outer vertical sides the inner sides of spacer blocks |00. Fig. 14. Also while spacers 00 rest on surface 0|, inserts 01 rest on the bottoms of i grooves 02, and insert |02 is supported by projec may extend to the rear asfar as possible, they are cut out at their rear ends to provide recesses in which plates ||0 may reciprocate without mechanical interference.

While spacer bolts are not considered as im-r portant .in the sinker-head arrangement SD shown in Figs. l2 to 25 inclusive, as in the arrangement shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, I have shown a-spacer bolt in Figs. l2, 15 and 19. Owing to the use of plate type spacers in the arrangement shown in F1gs.- 12 to 25 inclusive, it is necessary that the bolting means be combined with one or more spacers. 00B has small integral extensions and ||1 on its lower and upper edges, respectively, to which a`re attached, as by welding or brazing, square bolt sections ||0 adapted to occupy square holes I 2| and |22 in members 90 and 90, respectively. Round threaded extensions ||0 integral with square sections |,I0 runl through members 00 and 93 into recesses countersunk therein and receive nuts |23 and |20, respectively, thereon for preventing cap pmtion 93 from springing out of parallel with portion 90.

The inserts 01 and |02 may be made of any convenient material. In Figs. 23, 24 and 25, I

have shown in section several insert members 01 and |02 which are identical except for the materials of which they are made, Fig. 23 being cross-hatched to indicate that the insert shown therein is made of brass, Fig. 24 being crosshatched to indicate that the insert shown therein is made of steel, and Fig. 25 being cross-hatched to indicate that the insert shown therein is made of Bakelite. Moreover, if desired, inserts 01 and |02 may be die-cast or made by compressing powdered metal. 'I'lie spacers 96 may be conveniently stamped or cut from thin sheet material bya die. Also, spacers 00l may be made of metal or Bakelite. as desired, those@ shown being of metal. Further, spacers 00 may be made by die-castingif desired. Similarly. although the base 00 is assumed to be of a bearing metal such as hard brass or bronze, this member may be made thinner in the vertical direction than shown, if desired, and the difference in its vertical dimension compared to that shown made up in Bakelite placed along itsupper surface 0|, the surface presented to the edgesv of sinkers 21, dividers 20 and spacers 00, so that the bearing surface for the sinkers and dividers will be Bakelite, as is the case in the suiker-heads shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 11. Also, if desired, ,OQver 00 may be made thinner than shown and have a sheet of Bakelite along its bottom surface. Whenever .Bakelite isl used as a bearing for the lower edges of the sinkers and dividers, the coemcient of friction of the metal of which the major portion of the' sinker-head base and cover are made is immaterial and it can be of cast iron or can be of metal suitable for diecasting if desired. Further, the forward ends of spacers 00` can be made of Bakelite even if the spacers are mostly of metal. In this way, the presser surfaces for the needle beards, may be made of Bakelite in the sinker-head SD shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 15 as well as in the forms shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 11.

It will be seen that the arrangement of Figs. 12 to 25 inclusive is well adapted to rehabilitation in more than one way. After surface 0| has become so worn that the fabric produced is not of as high quality as desired, assuming surface 0| to be of metal, the original surface can'be restored readily because the major part of it is protected from wear and the grooves which have been worn -in it can' be removedV by'merely ma- As shown, a spacer ehining the top of base l down to a smooth surface and raising the level of the sinker-headto correspond to the amount taken off. The inserts Gl are enough thinner than the depth of grooves I2 to permit truing up surface 9| at least once .without requiring any change in strips or inserts 8l. However, when necessary strips 9i can ybe made thinner, preferably by taking material oi their bottoms.

if surface si is originally supplied by a sheet of Bakelite, evidently, it can be restored by merely substituting a new sheet for the original one.

In case spacers 9S become worn, they can be readily. replaced.

1n the case o any of the forms shown, new sinkers and dividers will, in general, be supplied at the time the supporting member is restored.

Further, it will be clear as to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 12 to 25 inclusive that the spacers 96, while considerable in number, are

all identical. Also, the insert members El and ist have identical machine work except for the minor operation of making the bevels H5. Further, surfaces 9i` and 94, being plane ones, can be formed by grinding on a machine, by milling or equivalent method. Also, the grooves 92 and 95 can be cast in members @il and 83 and finished by grinding, while the inserts 97 and |02 can be of ordinary brass drawn to size and requiring no machining except for making slots 88. Therefore, all points being considered the cost of a new sinker-head SD is less in quantity than the ordinary form because making the spacers $6 involves, after a proper die has been made. only a stamping operation, and the inserts 91 and |02 for the base and cover of a given head can be machined simultaneously in one operation.,

It will be noted that all forms of sinker-head disclosed herein include inserts which are readily put on and removed from the base or cover backing members.l This is true even of the inserts of Bakelite molded in place on the bac ing members, because such inserts can be readily chipped off when it is desired to replace them on account of their having become worn beyond commercial limits. It will bey noted further that the slotted inserts Il and |02 shown in Figs. 13, 14, 15 and 18 to 25 inclusive, while not in contact with the sinkers and dividers ,are nevertheless a part of the guiding means therefor in that said inserts hold the guiding spacers 96 in correct position by means of slots 98 and ribs 99.

The base member 80, as best shown in Fig. 2l, has a pair of depending lugs 18 integral therewith, lugs 18 having cap pieces 19 ilxed thereto by screws 82 serving to provide the journal bearing for the knockover bit bed (not shown) associated with the sinker-head SD, this being the ordiirary arrangement as shown also in Figs. 7 an Of course, the improvements specifically shown and described by which I obtain the above results,

can be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the invention herein disclosed andhereinafter claimed.

I claim as my invention: c

1. A sinker-head adapted to support the sinkers and dividers of a full-fashioned knitting machine comprising a backing member and an insert ilrmly secured thereto but readily removable therefrom which has slots therein extending transversely of the head, said insert secured to 2. A sinker-head adapted to support and guide the sinkers and dividers of a full-fashioned knitting machine comprising upper and lower backing members, inserts rmly secured thereto and readily removable therefrom which have slots therein, extending transversely of the head, and spacer members lying between the positions of the sinkers and dividers and having projections extending into said slots.

3. A sinker-head adapted to support the sinkers and dividers of a. full-fashioned knitting machine comprising upper and lower backing members, inserts firmly secured thereto but readily removable therefrom which have slots therein extending transversely of the head, and spacer members lying between the positions of the sinkers and dividers and'having projections extending into said slots, said spacer members having recesses extending forwardly from their rear ends .to receive the reinforcing members at the rear ends of the sinkers.

4. A sinker-head adapted to support and guide the sinkers and dividers ola full-fashioned knitting machine comprising a backing member having a substantially plane surface for supporting the sinkers and dividers and having parallel grooves therein sunk below the level of said surface and extending longitudinally of the head, transversely slotted strips in said grooves, and sper members resting on said surface for separating the sinkers and dividers and having projections extending into the slots in said strips.

5. A sinker-head structure adapted to support and guide the sinkers and dividers of a fullfashioned knitting machine comprising a backing member acting as a base for the sinker-head and having a substantially plane surface for support; ing the sinkers and dividers, and having parallel grooves therein sunk below the level of said surface and extending longitudinally of the head, a second backing member above said first backing member and acting as a cover for the sinker-head structure and having a groove set into its bottom surface parallel to said grooves, a transversely slotted strip in each of v said grooves, means for holding said backing members in spaced relation, and spacer members resting on said surface for supporting the sinkers and havixtixgi projections extending into the slots in said s ps.

6. A sinker-head structure comprising spaced parallel elongated members arranged so that one member guides one edge and the other member the other edge of each of the sinkers, and parallel spacers intermediate said members having guiding and supporting contact with said sinkers over the entire widths of the sinkers for portions sf the lengths of the spacers beginning adjacent the forward edges of said members.

said backing member by a soldered joint, and

moans for guiding said sinkers and dividers including said slots.

7. In a flat knitting machine, the combination of a sinker-head having lspacedV elongated parallel cap and base members, a plurality of sinkers mounted to reciprocate in planes transverse to said members and having notched ends for engaging yarn, and thin parallel spacers held 'firmly between said members having guiding and forward edges of said cap and base members.

8. In a nat knitting machine, the combination with sinkersof a sinker-head structure therefor 4 comprising spaced parallel elongated members arranged so that one member guides one edge and the other member the other edge-of the sinkers,

and parallel spacers intermediate said members in planes substantially perpendicular thereto and having guiding and supporting contact with said sinkers over the entire widths of the sinkers for at least portions of the lengths of the spacers, said sinkers mounted to reciprocate between said spacers and terminating substantially at thevrear ends of their backs.

9. A sinker-head structure comprising spaced base and cover members having parallel plane surfaces, a series of spacer members held between said members in spaced parallel relation, and a series of sinkers arranged to reciprocate between said spacers, said spacers being cut out at their rear ends to avoid interference with reinforcing plates on the sinkers.

10. A sinker-head structure comprising spaced parallel elongated members arranged so that one member guides one edge and the other member the other edge of each of the sinkers, and spacer means extending intermediate said members and having guiding and supporting contact with said sinkers over the entire widths of the sinkers for a material portion of the length of the vspacer means beginning adjacent the forward edges of Asaid members.

juxtaposition 'with the inner surfaces of said base and cap members in use and held in desired position transversely of said members in use by means recessed inone of said members.

13` In a full-fashioned knitting machine, the combination with a sinker-head having base and cover members, parallel sinkers mounted to reciprorocate vbetween said members and guided thereby and means for clamping said members together of a series of separable spacers arrangedv intermediate said sinkers, said spacers having upper and lower edge surfaces closely adjacent the inner faces of said cover and base members respectively. and having projections extending beyond seid upper and lower surfaces and into recessesin said base and cover members in use.

14. In s.` knitting machine, the combination of a'sinker-head structure comprising spaced base and cover members having parallel innerguide surfaces, sinkers and dividers adapted to reciprospacer members separate from but h'eld between said members in spaced parallel relation, said spacer members having vertical side surfaces for guiding said sinkers and dividers extending uninterrnptedly substantially the entire distance between said base and cover members for at least halfthewidthofsaid covermemberandhaving projections extending beyond the guide surfaces ofsaidbaseandcovermembers.' v

'15, In 'a sinker-head structure for a knitting cate incontact with said surfaces, and a series of v machine, a backing member having a longitudinal recess therein, a transversely slotted insert in said recess, and spacer members having edge surfaces in juxtaposition with the inner surface of said backing member, said spacer members interengaged with said insert.

` 16. A sinker-head structure comprising spaced base and cover members having parallel plane surfaces, a series of spacer members separate from but held between said members in spaced parallel relation and extending at right angles to said surfaces and adapted to contact the sinkers and dividers substantially uninterruptedly for their entire dimension in the direction at right angles to said surfaces for a substantial longitudinal portion of the spacer members.

1'7. A relatively thin elongated spacer member adapted for use in a sinker-head of a full-fashioned knitting machine for separating and guiding sinker and divider members and having a cut out at its rear end to avoid interference with reinforcing plates on the sinkers.

18. A sinker-head structure comprising spaced parallel elongated members arranged so that one member guides one edge and the other member th'e other edge of each of the sinkers, spacer members extending intermediate said members and having guiding and supporting contact withsaid sinkers over substantial portions of the widths of the sinkers for material portions of the length of the said spacer members and means for maintaining said spacer members in desired position relative to each other in use including projections extending from the spacer members beyond the facing portions of said elongated guide members.

19. A sinker-head structure comprising spacedv parallel elongated members arranged so that one member guides one edge and the other member the other edge of each of the sinkers. spacers extending intermediate said members and having guiding and supporting contact with said sinkers over material portions of the widths of the sinkers for material portions of the length of the spacers, and anchorage means fixing said spacers to said members in use.

20. A relatively thin elongated spacer member adapted for use in a sinker-head structure and having a portion of a thickness suitable for separating reciprocating sinker and divider members in luse and a width suitable for providing suidins andlsupporting contact with such members over substantially th'e entire widths of the sinker and divider members for a material portion of the length of the spacer member and having a cutout at its rear end to avoid interference with a reinforcing plate on one of 'said reciprocating members.

21. A sinker-head structure for flat knitting machines comprising iirst portions guiding'each one edge of a sinker or divider member, second portions guiding each the other edge of th'e sinker or divider member, and third portionsexte'nding intermediate said nrst and second portions and maintained at fixed distances apart in use for spacing each of the sinker and divider members one from the other and having guiding and supporting contact with both sides of eachof the sinker and divider members over substantially the entire widths thereof for material fractions of the length of the 4spacer portions.

ALVIN L. BRUMBACH. 

